merger control Archive

A lot to digest, and more to come!

14. February 2023 Gast Comments 0 Comment

PDF Version: Click here Suggested Citation: Olthoff/Lübbig, DKartJ 2023, 5-7 On 6 February 2023 the European Commission released a draft notification form as part of the draft Implementation Regulation to the FSR (EU Regulation 2022/2560 of 14 December 2022 on foreign subsidies distorting the internal market). This reminded Merit Olthoff and Thomas Lübbig of lines from a famous German poem: “Spirits that I’ve cited – my commands ignore.” – These lines from a famous poem will certainly be well known to German-speaking readers of…

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Conglomerate foreclosure in the metaverse

22. June 2022 Gast Comments 0 Comment

The concept of the metaverse has received a lot of attention over the last year. Some assume it will revolutionize the way we live, others believe that it merely constitutes the mainstreamization of video gaming. This uncertain outcome has not discouraged undertakings to invest substantially in the metaverse. These investments, accompanied by the increasing concentration in gaming markets, warrant a closer antitrust discussion of the metaverse. Whilst interoperable platforms and ecosystems tend to provide significant value to consumers, their layered markets are increasingly challenging for antitrust law…

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Conference Debriefing (27): EU Competition Conference 2021

9. November 2021 D'Kart Comments 0 Comment

Following the bi-annual tradition the EU Competition Conference was held again this year – not in Brussels but instead all over Europe. Competition law practitioners submerged in the virtual world to discuss the latest developments in EU Competition Law – Patrick Hauser and Lisa Pawlak have the details. Name of Event: EU Competition Conference Topic: Latest developments and upcoming challenges in key areas of EU competition law, especially the “new” Art. 22 EUMR referral regime in merger control, the reform of EU rules…

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One Ring to Rule them All?

12. April 2021 Gast Comments 3 comments

Georg Schmittmann on the Commission’s guidance on the application of the referral mechanism set out in Art. 22 of the European Merger Control Regulation In the epic fantasy novel „Lord of the Rings“, the evil Lord Sauron secretly forged the “One Ring”. His intentions were pretty clear. He wanted an all-powerful magic ring. “One Ring to Rule them all, One Ring to find them”, J. R. R. Tolkien wrote. Not to compare the European Commission with the evil Lord Sauron,…

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SSNIPpets (43): Tektonik

29. January 2021 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 1 comment

While marveling in the provisions of the new German competition act, indulging in a new podcast and anticipating feverishly (not literally) the solution of the vaccination problems, Rupprecht Podszun found a bit of time. And wrote the SSNIPpets – small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! Romantic competition Recently, the 130th anniversary of Nicolaus Otto’s death was commemorated, at least in the WDR radio programme ZeitZeichen, which has been running since 1972 (!). Otto, who invented…

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SSNIPpets 39: Basteln und bauen

12. June 2020 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 0 Comment

The time of working from home is for many people a time for DIY – the author of these lines met a well-known Düsseldorf antitrust law partner in the very long queue to a DIY store on a Corona-Saturday. The European Commission is also currently working on all kinds of things. And the courts are anyway. Time for a workshop report by Rupprecht Podszun. Here are his SSNIPpets – small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project!…

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SSNIPpets (38): Phase II

24. April 2020 Rupprecht Podszun Comments 1 comment

In the antitrust community, the term “Phase II” has so far triggered thoughts about merger control: This is where Phase II is rather frightening. Today, “Phase II” gets a new meaning, even with competition folks – it is the gradual reopening of public life after the shutdown. Rupprecht Podszun is in his SSNIPpets phase. Here are his small but significant news, information and pleasantries – our pet project! Stop the clock Since we had collectively been ordered into isolation a…

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In defence of tried and tested merger control

1. May 2019 D'Kart Comments 1 comment

The proposals to change European merger control, in particular with a view to paving the way for national and European champions, keep irritating the competition law community. This week, the Financial Times published an Open Letter signed by 92 practitioners from law firms and economic consultancies and academics. D’Kart documents this contribution to the debate – with thanks to Vanessa Turner who started the initiative. The recent Franco-German proposals to potentially soften and/or politicize competition enforcement in the EU continue…

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